Jean-Claude Brizard

Jean-Claude Brizard
CEO of Chicago Public Schools
In office
May 16, 2011 – present
Superintendent of the Rochester City School District
In office
January 1, 2008 – May 13, 2011
Personal details
Born About 1964
Haiti
Spouse(s) K. Brooke Stafford-Brizard
Children 2
Alma mater Queens College, City University of New York
Profession Educator

Jean-Claude Brizard (born about 1964) is the CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Directly before coming to Chicago, he served as a superintendent of the Rochester City School District. He started his career as a teacher, then an administrator, in the New York School System.[1]

Brizard was born an hour north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Dictator François Duvalier had his grandfather imprisoned and his parents fled to the United States when it learned his father might be imprisoned as well.[2] After reuniting with his family, Brizard attended public schools in Brooklyn and earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in Science Education from Queens College and a master’s degree in School Administration and Supervision from the City College of New York.

He began his career as an instructor at Rikers Island, later moving to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he taught physics and became principal in 1999. In 2003 he rose to the instructional superintendency of Region 8, New York City Department of Education. He attended the Superintendents’ Academy of the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems in 2007.

In 2008, he assumed the superintendency of the Rochester City School District.[3] He became the Chicago Public Schools CEO in 2011.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Brizard won praise from N.Y. colleagues, catcalls from unions". Chicago Sun-Times. 2011-04-18. http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/4904154-418/brizard-won-praise-from-n.y.-colleagues-catcalls-from-unions. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
  2. ^ a b "Jean-Claude Brizard, Chicago's new schools chief, doesn't back down from a challenge", Chicago Tribune (Chicago), 2011-05-08, ISSN 1085-6706, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-05-08/news/ct-met-brizard-profile-0509-20110508_1_new-schools-schools-superintendent-school-district, retrieved 2011-05-12 
  3. ^ "Jean-Claude Brizard announced as new head of Chicago schools", Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), 2011-04-18, ISSN 1088-5153, http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110418/NEWS01/110418008/Jean-Claude-Brizard-announced-new-head-Chicago-schools, retrieved 2011-05-12 
Educational offices
Preceded by
 Principal of the George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School
June 1999 – 2003		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Region 8 Instructional Superintendent, New York City Department of Education
2003 –		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
William C. Cala		 Superintendent of the Rochester City School District
January 1, 2008 – May 13, 2011		 Succeeded by
Bolgen Vargas (interim)
Preceded by
Terry Mazany (interim)		 Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools
May 16, 2011 – present		 Incumbent